We have a stacked 11-game slate on Thursday's NHL card, with an abundance of options to pick through on PrizePicks. Below, I give out five PrizePicks flex plays.
For those unfamiliar with PrizePicks flex plays, getting 5/5 correct registers a 10x payout, 4/5 correct registers a 2x payout, and 3/5 correct registers a 0.4x payout.
You can also take these plays and do smaller parlays with just two or three props for lower payouts.
What is PrizePicks? A daily fantasy operator — meaning they’re available in more states (31) than sports betting is! — PrizePicks offers a unique opportunity for action on player props in which you parlay two or more plays together.
Thursday NHL Props
Steven Stamkos – Over 0.5 Assists
We have a huge Atlantic Division tilt tonight as the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning host the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs. Stamkos has racked up five assists over three games against Toronto this season and should be in a good spot to keep It rolling.
Entering this matchup in great form, Stamkos has collected 15 assists over his past 13 games. I expect Tampa Bay to find the back of the net often this game, and so do oddsmakers as the Lightning are the favorites and the total has fluctuated between 6.5 and 7.
I would not play this if the total jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Victor Hedman – Over 0.5 Assists
In a play where there could be a strong correlation with Stamkos racking up an assist, I like Hedman to get one as well. Hedman has collected nine assists over his last nine games and should be a good candidate to get one in this matchup as well.
Stamkos and Hedman could both get this in one swing as they both log big minutes each night and play alongside each other on Tampa Bay's first power play unit. Toronto has given up three power play goals over their last five games.
I would not play this if the total jumps from 0.5 to 1.
Rasmus Andersson – Under 0.5 Points
The Pacific Division's first-place Calgary Flames host the Central Division's fifth-place Dallas Stars in a matchup I suspect will be low-scoring. Dallas' defense has been their strength this season as the Stars currently rank eighth in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Since the Stars are on the second half of a back-to-back, we can expect to see Jake Oettinger between the pipes. He's been solid all season for Dallas and boasts a 0.913 save percentage.
Meanwhile, Andersson enters this contest in a bit of a funk, having failed to record a point in four straight games.
Roope Hintz – Under 0.5 Points
I am fading another skater in this matchup, but this time on the Stars. While Hintz has recorded a point in five of his past six games, I think this is a good spot to sell high on the Dallas winger.
Jacob Markstrom is the projected starting goaltender for the Flames and he's been excellent lately, allowing two or fewer goals in seven of his past 10 appearances between the pipes.
Leading the league with nine shutouts, Markstrom boasts a 0.923 save percentage and ranks 10th amongst starting goaltenders in five-on-five goals saved above expected per 60 minutes (GSAx). Markstrom also has an incredible defense in front of him which I expect to suppress Hintz and the rest of Dallas' skaters as the Flames currently rank fourth in the league in five-on-five expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA).
Additionally, Hintz has failed to record a point in each of his two games against Calgary this season.
Jonathan Huberdeau – Over 2.5 Shots on Goal
We have an Atlantic Division tilt as the first-place Florida Panthers host the fifth-place Detroit Red Wings. I would not be surprised if Florida reaches at least 40 shots on goal this game, which means that Huberdeau should be able to grab at least three of those for us.
Over his past 11 contests, Huberdeau is averaging 3.64 shots on goal per game and now goes against a Detroit team that bleeds shot attempts. This season, Detroit ranks 29th in the league in opposing shots on goal.
Detroit has given up an average of 37 shots on goal per game over its past five outings. However, I would not play this total If It jumps from 2.5 to 3.
